Positions

This position holds that people should switch to electric cars for the environment. It argues that, running on electricity rather than petrol, they cut air and noise pollution and reduce reliance on fossil fuels — a revolutionary technology that would make the world a cleaner, better place.

This position holds that plastic products can be replaced with eco-friendly options. It argues that plastic's environmental harm makes replacement necessary, that a growing range of substitutes now mimics its versatility, and that natural materials such as cellulose can replace uses like packaging.

Polar bears are very sensitive organisms. They can only survive in artic regions of the world like Antarctica. As time passes by, they are in danger of becoming extinct.

This position holds that political correctness harms society, cultivating discord rather than progress. It argues that PC norms stifle free speech, offer only a superficial fix for real inequality, strain everyday relationships, and amount to a new form of prejudice in themselves.

The legalisation of group unions should be afforded to all as we move on from traditional conceptions of love. Marriage equality is changing and desiring to exercise one’s right to marry, irrespective of the number of persons involved, should be allowed by the state.

This position holds that polygraphs should be admissible in court. It argues that lie detectors help determine a subject's truthfulness and often induce confessions, that they are already used elsewhere in law, and that technology should aid the justice system's search for truth.

Pornography is desensitizing and potentially addictive. People under the age of 18 are not capable of making adult decisions regarding the content they consume and should be protected from harmful images.

This position holds that prisons should be abolished. It argues that prisons simply do not work, that private prisons profit from locking people up, and that incarceration is immoral — and that a more ethical system would reintegrate offenders into society as citizens instead.

This position holds that psychics and their abilities are real. It points to reports that the CIA once funded a psychic research programme, to claims that some people possess extrasensory perception (ESP), and to the testimony of clients who insist their psychic experiences were genuine.

This position holds that quarantine is bad for mental health. It argues that isolation from friends and family and reduced social contact cause real harm—fuelling depression and PTSD, straining family relationships, and driving up rates of drug dependency.

Recessions invariably result in economic hardship, increasing unemployment, reducing consumer spending, and leading to business failures, adversely affecting societies.

This position holds that recycling works and improves the environment. It argues there is evidence of its benefits, that it has become a normal part of daily life, that it discourages littering, encourages sustainable buying, and helps clean up the environment.

The social institution critiqued by Karl Marx as "the opiate of the masses" is just as harmful as any literal drug, promoting tribalism and permitting atrocities in God's name.

This position holds that religion is the primary motivation behind ISIS and its recruitment. It argues that the group built itself around a Salafist reading of Islam, and that fighters join out of genuine belief in jihad and clear religious goals rather than mainly political ones.

This position holds that religion commands care for the environment, via the 'stewardship' view: God made humans caretakers of creation, giving them a duty to protect it. It draws on Genesis — Adam and Eve told to 'work it and take care of it' — and on figures like Pope John Paul II.

This position holds that rent caps are a good idea. It argues that capping rents keeps housing affordable for tenants, prevents the displacement of long-standing residents from their neighbourhoods, and helps reduce the political friction that soaring rents can generate in a community.

Ride-hailing apps connect passengers with drivers quickly, safely, and efficiently. Passengers are provided with their driver's ID and car information before their car arrives. Passengers can also share their real-time route and driver details with friends or family which adds more security.

There are instances where no other action can be taken to ensure that justice is achieved, other avenues for redress have been exhausted, and some form of violence is needed to move governments to action.

This position holds that school uniforms should be mandatory. It argues they bring many benefits—saving families time and money, making classrooms safer and more equal, reducing distraction, and fostering a shared sense of order and identity among students.

This position holds that schools should be able to ban books. It argues that schools have a responsibility to regulate what children read — keeping out material that promotes hate speech, and shielding young students from content too mature for their age.

This position holds that schools should continue Eurocentric curriculums. It argues that European civilisations form the basis of modern societies, so such an education is crucial to understanding today's world — and that Western curriculums should remain the dominant narrative in Western society.

This position holds that service can be refused on religious grounds in all cases. It argues that forcing someone to provide a service against their faith is wrong, that religious freedom is uniquely important, and that creative work like baking a cake is a form of protected expression.

This position holds that sex education should be taught in schools. It argues that school is where children build decision-making skills, that not everyone has access elsewhere, and that good sex education cuts unwanted pregnancies and STDs, eases shame and anxiety, and fosters inclusion.

This position holds that Shakespeare's writing is universal and timeless. It argues that the depth and beauty of his work let it resonate across the centuries — that he addressed complex societal issues still with us today, and explored rather than argued about his great themes.

This position holds that short films are worth watching. It argues they are a powerful way to experience stories, can be made by almost anyone, give a platform to overlooked voices, allow unique and experimental work, and often lead to feature-length films.

Social media is being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states. Polarising content is being used for voter suppression and foreign states are influencing the 2020 election.

Social networking sites have ushered in a new form of communication. We now have easy access to individuals, organisations and events which benefits us in many instances, such as when job-hunting and simply keeping up with current affairs.

This position holds that socialism is both ethical and advantageous. It argues socialism is the only feasible route to a fair society, since its central aim is to build a community founded on equality and broadly shared prosperity.